IPL 2018: BCCI to monitor the workloads of Bhuvneshwar, Bumrah and Ashwin
In what will surely be music to the ears of the members of the Indian cricket team, the BCCI is set to monitor the workload of the contracted players in the upcoming IPL. According to reports, the BCCI is working on introducing a clause which will limit the number of overs contracted Indian bowlers can bowl during IPL net sessions.
The clause will have to be inserted in the contracts the players signed with their respective IPL franchises.The clause has been designed keeping in mind the contracts of the foreign players who participate in the lucrative T20 league.
The boards the respective players belong to sign an agreement with the BCCI to prevent player burnout. Hence, if a player bowls even a single over more than what was agreed upon in the clause in his contract, the board has the right to recall him citing 'overwork'.
“The board will soon have a clause where a contracted bowler with the BCCI will have limitations on how much he can bowl in the nets. The respective franchises will be informed once the proper paperwork is completed. The paper is yet to be formalised as the board will be looking at adding it as an additional clause in the contracts between players and franchises. It’s a move that has being considered to protect our players from burnout. They are anyway coming off a heavy workload while playing for India and with a hectic calendar ahead,” an official of the BCCI was quoted saying to Indian Express.
All bowlers who are a part of the Indian team, including Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ravi Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah etc are set to have their workload monitored. The increasing workload of players has long been a cause for concern. Recently, the likes of Virat Kohli, Bumrah and other senior members of the squad were left out of India's Nidahas Trophy squad in order for them to recuperate after a gruelling home season and subsequent tour to South Africa.
Meanwhile, at the behest of Indian U-19 coach Rahul Dravid, the U-19 pacers too are set to have their workload and progress monitored closely. Dravid had requested the BCCI to closely watch the youngsters' development and have the NCA in Bangalore track their progress.